Projection Planetarium
Encyclopedia
The Projection Planetarium was a training device hosed in the Flight Research Laboratory
hangar at NASA's Langley Research Center
in Hampton, Virginia. It consisted of a custom designed star projector surrounded by a 40 feet (12.2 m) diameter sphere constructed from a surplus 53 feet (16.2 m) radome. . The star projector was movable in 3 directions while the capsule mockup and it's pilots remained static. The system was used in studies of manual control of spacecraft using "out the window" visual information both in orbit and in a launch abort scenario. The planetarium was constructed in 1965 at a cost of $153,103 for research and development and $177,000 for construction and materials. An additional $145,400 worth of surplus materials were made use of in the project.
Described by A.W. Vogeley in a paper presented at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Winter 1966 meeting entitled "Piloted Space-Flight Simulation at Langley Research Center." the system was used to study Apollo launch-abort problems with a "horizon-to-horizon view of Florida as seen from about 100,000 feet." The inflatable sphere enclosing the projector and fixed Gemini capsule mockup also displayed star images. The star projector was sufficient for testing pilot control problems such as rendezvous because the star field was used "primarily as an atitude reference" but was insufficient testing navigation issues.
Navigational training of Gemini, Apollo, and some Space Shuttle astronauts was conducted at the Morehead Planetarium
in Chapel Hill, NC.
Flight Research Laboratory
The Flight Research Laboratory at NASA's Langley Research Center houses fixed and rotary wing aircraft used in atmospheric and flight research...
hangar at NASA's Langley Research Center
Langley Research Center
Langley Research Center is the oldest of NASA's field centers, located in Hampton, Virginia, United States. It directly borders Poquoson, Virginia and Langley Air Force Base...
in Hampton, Virginia. It consisted of a custom designed star projector surrounded by a 40 feet (12.2 m) diameter sphere constructed from a surplus 53 feet (16.2 m) radome. . The star projector was movable in 3 directions while the capsule mockup and it's pilots remained static. The system was used in studies of manual control of spacecraft using "out the window" visual information both in orbit and in a launch abort scenario. The planetarium was constructed in 1965 at a cost of $153,103 for research and development and $177,000 for construction and materials. An additional $145,400 worth of surplus materials were made use of in the project.
Described by A.W. Vogeley in a paper presented at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Winter 1966 meeting entitled "Piloted Space-Flight Simulation at Langley Research Center." the system was used to study Apollo launch-abort problems with a "horizon-to-horizon view of Florida as seen from about 100,000 feet." The inflatable sphere enclosing the projector and fixed Gemini capsule mockup also displayed star images. The star projector was sufficient for testing pilot control problems such as rendezvous because the star field was used "primarily as an atitude reference" but was insufficient testing navigation issues.
Navigational training of Gemini, Apollo, and some Space Shuttle astronauts was conducted at the Morehead Planetarium
Morehead Planetarium
Morehead Planetarium and Science Center is located on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It is one of the oldest and largest planetariums in the United States having welcomed over 7 million visitors by its 60th anniversary in 2009...
in Chapel Hill, NC.